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〃Now that's sick。 I'm sorry； Bo。 Resurrectionist！ I shot my mouth off once； years ago； and said even the Dominator would be better for Oar than our clown Mayor。 One stupid remark！ They never let you forget。 It's not enough that they hounded my father into an early grave。 Now they have to torment me and my friends。〃
Bomanz had no idea what Tokar was talking about。 He would have to ask Stance。 But it reassured him； which was all he really wanted。
〃Tokar； keep the profits from this lot。 For Stance and Glory。 As my wedding present。 Have they set a date？〃
〃Nothing definite。 After his sabbatical and thesis。 e winter； I guess。 Thinking about ing down？〃
〃Thinking about moving back to Oar。 I don't have enough fight left to break in a new Monitor。〃
Tokar chuckled。 〃Probably won't be much call for Domination artifacts after this summer anyway。 I'll see if I can find you a place。 You do work like the king here； you won't have trouble making a living。〃
〃You really like it？ I was thinking about doing his horse； too。〃 Bomanz felt a surge of pride in his craftsmanship。
〃Horse？ Really？ They buried his horse with him？〃
〃Armor and all。 I don't know who put the TelleKurre in the ground； but they didn't loot。 We've got a whole box of coins and jewelry and badges。〃
〃Domination coinage？ That's hotter than hot。 Most of it was melted down。 A Domination coin in good shape can bring fifty times its metal value。〃
〃Leave King Whosis here。 I'll put his horse together for him。 Pick him up next trip。〃
〃I won't be long； either。 I'll unload and zip right back。 Where's Stance； anyway？ I wanted to say hello。〃 Tokar waved one of those leather wallets。
〃Glory？〃
〃Glory。 She ought to write romances。 Going to break me； buying paper。〃
〃He's out to the dig。 Let's go。 Jasmine！ I'm taking Tokar out to the dig。〃
During the walk Bomanz kept glancing over his shoulder。 The et was now so bright it could be seen； barely； by day。 〃Going to be one hell of a sight when it peaks out；〃 he predicted。
〃I expect so。〃 Tokar's smile made Bomanz nervous。 I'm imagining； he told himself。
Stancil used his back to open the shop door。 He dumped a load of weapons。 〃We're getting mined out； Pop。 Pretty much all mon junk last night。〃
Bomanz twisted a strand of copper wire； wriggled out of the framework supporting the horse skeleton。 〃Then let Men fu take over。 Not much more room here anyway。〃
The shop was almost impassable。 Bomanz would not have to dig for years； were that his inclination。
〃Looking good；〃 Stance said of the horse； tarrying before going for another armful from a borrowed cart。 〃You'll have to show me how to get the king on top so I can put them together when I go back。〃
〃I may do it myself。〃
〃Thought you'd decided to stay。〃
〃Maybe。 I don't know。 When are we going to start that thesis？〃
〃I'm working on it。 Making notes。 Once I get organized I can write it up like that。〃 He snapped his fingers。 〃Don't worry。 I've got plenty of time。〃 He went outside again。
Jasmine brought tea。 〃I thought I heard Stance。〃
Bomanz jerked his head。 〃Outside。〃
She looked for a place to set teapot and cups。 〃You're going to have to get this mess organized。〃
〃I keep telling myself that。〃
Stancil returned。 〃Enough odds and ends here to make a suit of armor。 Long as nobody tries to wear it。〃
〃Tea？〃 his mother asked。
〃Sure。 Pop； I came past headquarters。 That new Monitor is here。〃
〃Already？〃
〃You're going to love him。 He brought a coach and three wagons filled with clothing for his mistress。 And a platoon of servants。〃
〃What？ Ha！ He'll die when Besand shows him his quarters。〃 The Monitor lived in a cell more fit for a monk than for the most powerful man in the province。
〃He deserves it。〃
〃You know him？〃
〃By reputation。 Polite people call him the Jackal。 If I'd known it was him 。 。 。 What could I have done？ Nothing。 He's lucky his family got him sent here。 Somebody would have killed him if he'd stayed around the city。〃
〃Not popular； eh？〃
〃You'll find out if you stay。 e back； Pop。〃
〃I've got a job to do； Stance。〃
〃How much longer？〃
〃A couple of days。 Or forever。 You know。 I've got to get that name。〃
〃Pop； we could try now。 While things are confused。〃
〃No experiments； Stance。 I want it cold。 I won't take chances with the Ten。〃
Stancil wanted to argue but sipped tea instead。 He went out to the cart again。 When he returned； he said； 〃Tokar should be turned around by now。 Maybe he'll bring more than two wagons。〃
Bomanz chuckled。 〃Maybe he'll bring more than wagons； you mean？ Like maybe a sister？〃
〃I was thinking that； yes。〃
〃How are you going to get a thesis written？〃
〃There's always a spare moment。〃
Bomanz ran a dust cloth over the jewel in the brow of his dead king's horse。 〃Enough for now； Dobbin。 Going out to the dig。〃
〃Swing by and check the excitement；〃 Stancil suggested。
〃I wouldn't miss it。〃
Besand came to the dig that afternoon。 He caught Bomanz napping。 〃What is this？〃 he demanded。 〃Sleeping on the job？〃
Bomanz sat up。 〃You know me。 Just getting out of the house。 I hear the new man showed up。〃
Besand spat。 〃Don't mention him。〃
〃Bad？〃
〃Worse than I expected。 Mark me； Bo。 Today writes the end of an era。 Those fools will rue it。〃
〃You decide what you're going to do？〃
〃Go fishing。 Bloody go fishing。 As far from here as I can get。 Take a day to break him in； then head south。〃
〃I always wanted to retire to one of the Jewel Cities。 I've never seen the sea。 So you're headed out right away； eh？〃
〃You don't have to sound so damned cheerful about it。 You and your Resurrectionist friends have won； but I'll go knowing you didn't beat me on my own ground。〃
〃We haven't fought much lately。 That's no reason to make up for lost time。〃
〃Yeah。 Yeah。 That was uncalled for。 Sorry。 It's frustration。 I'm helpless； and everything is going under。〃
〃It can't be that bad。〃
〃It can。 I have my sources； Bo。 I'm not some lone crazy。 There are knowledgeable men in Oar who fear the same things I do。 They say the Resurrectionists are going to try something。 You'll see； too。 Unless you get out。〃
〃I probably will。 Stancil knows this guy。 But I can't go before we finish the dig。〃
Besand gave him a narrow…eyed look。 〃Bo； I ought to make you clean up before I go。 Looks like Hell puked here。〃
Bomanz was not a fastidious worker。 For a hundred feet around his pit the earth was littered with bones； useless scraps of old gear； and miscellaneous trash。 A gruesome sight。 Bomanz did not notice。
〃Why bother？ It'll be overgrown in a year。 Besides； I don't want to make Men Fu work any harder than he has to。〃
〃You're all heart； Bo。〃
〃I work at it。〃
〃See you around。〃
〃All right。〃 And Bomanz tried to puzzle out what he had done wrong； what Besand had e for and not found。 He shrugged； snuggled into the grass； closed his eyes。
The woman beckoned。 Never had the dream been so clear。 And never so successful。 He went to her and took her hand； and she led him along a cool green tree…lined path。 Thin shafts of sunlight stabbed through the foliage。 Golden dust danced in the b